"A lot of people say that the Colorado River and the diminishing water supply is an issue that affects 40 million people, because that's who rely on it. I think that number is too low. I think 100 million people rely on the water from the Colorado," said fourth-generation farmer Andrew Leimgruber.
"When you're in between November and March, a large majority of your lettuce, broccoli, carrots, all of your winter greens are coming from either the Imperial Valley or just across the Colorado River from us, Yuma, Arizona," said Leimgruber.
"So, the big issue for us in California is our rising labor cost, but then also the ability to withstand pest pressure and things like that. One issue with lack of water is the lack of diversity in crops. Having that diversity enables us to keep pests under control," said Benson Farms' manager, Stephen Benson.
"Because of the low water levels, some farmers in the valley are paid to not grow certain crops or to use less water. That, however, is not always enough."
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